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The population of the West Midlands grew at a lower annual rate than that for England in 2009, according to the latest population estimates released by the Office for National Statistics.

With a population of 5.431 million, the region’s population grew by 0.4 per cent (23,000) on the preceding year.

Natural change (birth minus deaths) was the most significant contributor to the growth at 20,000, whereas net migration accounted for the remainder, and with a value of 3,000, was the lowest of any nation or region in the UK.

Locally within the West Midlands region, the most significant increases in population (in absolute terms) were recorded in:

Birmingham – up 10,000 to 1.029 million

Coventry – up 2,000 to 313,000

Sandwell – up 2,000 to 291,000

With an increase in population on the preceding year of 0.9 per cent, Birmingham also recorded the largest rate of increase, whereas Stoke-on-Trent’s population is estimated to have decreased by 0.2 per cent.

Across the UK, the population grew to 61.792 million in 2009, an increase of 0.6% on the preceding year, with natural change contributing 217,000 and net migration 177,000.

A detailed breakdown of all the 2009 mid-year population statistics—nationally, regionally and locally, as well as by age groups and gender—are available from the Office for National Statistics.

Subnational population projections using 2008 as the base were released by the ONS in May. They indicate that, under current assumptions in regards to net migration and natural change, the population growth rate in the West Midlands in the current decade would remain below the growth rate for England.

The West Midlands population is projected to grow by 5.2 per cent between 2008 and 2018, compared to a projected growth for all of England of 7.4 per cent in the same period.